Permanent waving apparatus



April 19, 1938. H. N. DURHAM PERMANENT WAVING APPARATUS Filed April 3,1935 INVENTOR- HHHHHHO 9 W ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 19, 1938 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE Hobart N. Durham, Munsey Park, N. Y., assignor toEugene, Ltd., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York ApplicationApril 3, 1935, Serial No. 14,407 In Great Britain December 31, 1934 4Claims.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in permanent wavingand to novel and useful methods and devices for permanently waving hair.

5 Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned bypractice with the invention, the same being realized and attained bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawing, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrates one embodiment of the invention, and together withthe description, serves to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of apparatus embodying the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a section showing the devices of Fig. l in operation.

The invention provides a new method of permanent waving wherein the heatand vapor are created by resistance to electrolytic conduction, andprovides also novel apparatus and devices for carrying out said methods.In certain of its features and applications the invention is especiallyadapted for electrolytically doing croquignole waving in an easy, simpleand efficient manner, with a minimum of mechanism, and that of a verysimple character. One of the 35 chief objects of the invention is tosteam curls electrolytically while eliminating possibility of shortcircuiting of metal parts and also preventing contact of the hair withany metal or corrodable material, whether in the electrolytic circuit 40or not. Other objects of the invention are to provide electrolyticallyoperated means for steaming croquignole curls from the inside outwardlyand to effect the longest and most intense steaming action at the centerof the wound tress.

45 In carrying out my invention, broadly considered, a mandrel uponwhich the tresses are to be wound is provided, the mandrel being ofabsorptive material, or otherwise capacitated to carry an electrolyte,the better practice being to im- 50 pregnate the mandrel with theelectrolyte for each successive tress, the electrolyte preferablycontaining alkaline hair softening ingredients, such as decomposableammonium salts.

By making the mandrel of rigid absorbent ma- 55 terial, such as unglazedporcelain, it can act as an absorbent electrolyte carrier and effectivecurl support as well. Thus a curl wound upon the absorbent surface canbe heated and steamed without bringing any hair into contact with metalelectrodes or other metal parts which sometimes 5 corrode and attack ordiscolor the hair. Accordingly the invention is especially valuable foruse with white or very blond or bleached hair. Also the hair is indirect contact with the energized electrolyte at the surface of themandrel, there- 10 by being in contact with the heat-creating element ofthe system but the hair itself is not in the direct path of theelectrolytic current, and consequently is not subjected to the sometimesdetrimental effects of passing current directly 15 through electrolytein or on the hair. Furthermore, as the mandrel is a conductor only whenmoistened with the electrolyte, a metallic short circuit through themandrel is impossible and thus it is much safer for electrolytic heatingthan 2.0 the usual metal mandrels or curling rods which are capable offorming a metallic short circuit in direct contact with the hair andthus dry-heating and sometimes even burning the tress.

For croquignole waving the mandrel is pref- 25 erably of least crosssection near its middle and increases in cross section towards its ends,being thus best adapted for croquignole winding, and electrolyticallythe mandrel during the process has greatest current density and offersgreatest electrical resistance at its middle part, within the heaviestpart of the tress, thereby getting the earliest, and strongest steamingor heating action within and acting upon the heaviest part of the tress.The mandrel is provided at either end with terminals adapted to bereadily connected with and disconnected from circuit terminals, whichterminals are in circuit with the low voltage side of a transformer. Thecurrent is passed axially of the mandrel and moisture from the enlargedmandrel ends feeds by capillarity to the reduced central portion therebymaintaining the electrolytic circuit. If, as is usual in croquignolewaving, the tress is moistened with lotion this lotion also serves tomaintain the mandrel moist and conductive.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description of thesteps and mechanism of my invention, and the following detaileddescription as well, are illustrative and exemplary, but are notrestrictive of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the illustrated and present preferredembodiment, a mandrel I is provided consisting of a rigid, absorptivematerial, such as a baked clay or unglazed porcelain,

or asbestos, cork or other like materials. The mandrel preferably is ofleast cross section near its middle portion, increasing in cross sectiontoward either end. This presents the most efiicient form for croquignolewinding and for the electrolytic method of the present invention it alsocreates a region of greatest current density and electrical resistanceat the middle part of the mandrel, and just within the heaviest part ofthe wound tress. At either end, the mandrel is provided with electricalterminals or electrodes of ample contacting areas, shown as cylindricalconducting members 2 and 3, having openings at 5 and 6 in their innerheads whereby they may be cast or moulded integral with the mandrelitself. Alternatively, the members 2 and 3 may be slidably orscrew-connected to the ends of the mandrel to permit ready removal andreplacement of electrodes. On their outer heads the terminals areprovided with outwardly projecting contact pins 7 and 8, which are splitso as to have a spring action. A winding ratchet 9 of usual form isshown near one end of the mandrel l, preferably being moulded into theceramic material. The cooperating terminal devices, which are inthesecondarycircuit of the transformer, comprise knobs or hand pieces I4and i5 outwardly of insulating material, but having centrally recessedmembers l6 of conducting material adapted to snap onto and off of thepins l and 8. These terminal devices-are in the secondary circuit ll ofthe transformer 18.

The resistance to electrolytic conduction aiforded by thelotion-moistenedmandrel serves to vaporize the lotion, heating the woundtress by conduction as well asby the condensation of the lotion vapors.

Various typesof clamps may be used, so far as the present invention isconcernedanda clamp is conventionally shown at 2! with the mandrel andwound tress mounted thereon. The tress may be covered preparatory to andduring the steaming by any suitable cover 22, usually of vapor andmoisture impervious material, preferably held in place by any suitableclamping means, such as the spring clip 23.

Due to the relatively long current path afforded by the mandrel,voltages as high as 10 to 20 volts may be employed, which are perfectlyharmless to the human body and at the same time eliminate theuncertainty of contact which might be encountered at lower voltages incase of any corrosion .of the terminals.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificmechanisms shown and described but-departures may be made therefromwithin the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from theprinciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What I claim is:

1. As an article of commerce for use in permanent waving, a mandrel ofabsorptive material capacitated to absorb an electrolyte whereby themandrel will be conductive in an electrolytic circuit when wet withelectrolyte and non-conductive when dry, the mandrel being adapted tosupport a wound tress of hair upon its absorptive surface, andelectrodes of opposite polarities spaced from each other and contactingportions of the surface of said mandrel remote from that portion of saidsurface upon which the hair is Wound, whereby the hair is heated bydirect contact with the electrolyte-carrying element in the electrolyticheating circuit but does not contact any electrode material in saidcircuit.

2. As an article of commerce for use in permanent waving, a rigidmandrel of absorptive material capacitated to absorb an. electrolytewhereby the mandrel will be conductive in an electrolytic circuit whenwet with electrolyte and non-conductive when dry, the mandrel beingadapted to support a wound tress of hair upon its absorptive surface,and electrodes of opposite polarities spaced from each other andcontacting portions of the surface of said mandrel remote from thatportion of said surface upon which the hair is wound, whereby the hairis heated by direct contact with the electrolyte-carrying element in theelectrolytic heating circuit but does not contact any electrode materialin said circuit.

As an article of commerce for use in permanent waving, a rigid mandrelof absorptive ceramic material capacitated to absorb an electrolytewhereby the mandrel will be conductive in an electrolytic circuit whenwet with electrolyte and non-conductive when dry, the mandrel beingadapted to support a wound tress of hair upon its absorptive surface,and electrodes of opposite polarities spaced from each other andcontacting portions of the surface of said mandrel remote from thatportion of said surface upon which the hair is wound, whereby the hairis heated by direct contact with an element in the electrolytic heatingcircuit but does not contact any electrode material in said circuit.

4. As an article of commerce for use "in permanent waving, a mandrel ofabsorptive material capacitated to absorb an electrolyte whereby themandrel will be conductive in an electrolytic circuit when wet withelectrolyte and non-conductive when dry, the mandrel being adapted tosupport a wound tress of hair upon its. absorptive surface, andelectrodes of opposite polarities spaced from each other and contactingportions of .the surface of said mandrel remote from that portion ofsaid surface upon which the hair is wound, whereby the .hair is heatedby direct contact with the electrolyte-carrying element in theelectrolytic heating circuit but does not contact any electrode materialin said circuit, said mandrel having a central portion of reduced crosssection to increase the current density and to intensify the heatinglocally.

HOBART N. DURHAM.

